The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-07

/ 0mmend that Congress he memOralized 10
take the utmost care and precaution. through
| The national power, to prevent the impOrta-
tion and spread Of the disease.
STATE COLLEGE.
The Agricultural College Is doing good
| tive by increased means. You will be asked
Tor an appropriation for that institution to
replace the valuable herd OF cattle destroyed
on account Of a disease which was infectious
ana threatening 70 other herds In the State.
This claim Is well based and / think should
be favOrably considered. The trustees oflthe
institution should guard against experiments
in farming and dairying, In competition with
neighbOring farmers, but they should at the
same time, be enabled to make tests Of ferti-
lizers, Of the different modes Of applying the
same, and of the different methods Of feed-
ing cattle, sheep and swine; so that the
farmers Of the state may have the benefit Of
the knowledge thus derived.
Whatever the Legislature can do 10 aid and
encourage the agricultural interests Of the
State, should be eheerfully and promptly
done. The agricultural resources Of Maine
are very great and are, as yet only partially
developed, and whatever tends TO make farm
ing more pleasant and profitable Is always
worthy Of attention and encouragement.
A measure now before Congress, known as
the Hatch Bill, for the establishment Of ex-
perimental stations In different States, will
II it becomes law, enlarge the power Of the
Agricultural College. and, 10 a considerable
extent. remove the cost Of It's maintenance
from the treasury OF the state.
EDUCATION.
Official reports concerning our educational
progress will be laid before you. Maine has
always maintained high rank In the scale
OF intelligence,-the degree Of her illiteracy,
by the census tables Of the United States,
being very small. 1t would, In fact be diff
cult to find a native Of Maine Of adult years
and sound mind who cannot read and write.
IL IS our duty to maintain and still further
advance cur educational standard, and / am
sure the Legislature viii not neglect any
needed action in this important field,
The provision for educating the blind and
also the deaf and dumb children Of the State
has thus FAR proved adequate. These unfOr-
tunate children have had the advantages Of
the best institutions in other States. There
Is wish expressed by many for an instltu-
tlon OF our own TO carry forward the work.
While this Is In itself desirable the need OF
1t is not pressing, the children are not ne
elected, and cannot recOmmend that the
State should undertake IL at present. The
expense would, in any event, be large, and it
would be several years before the facilities
those already enjoyed.
THE MILITIA.
The militia system of the State, now organ
lied upon very economical scale, should be
cheerfully maintained. / trust there will be
no hesitation on the part Of the Legislature
TO make the appropriation necessary to en-
sure such advantages Of uniform, discipline
and drill as may enable Maine soldiers 10
rival the best organizations in other States.
! venture to suggest, though not within the
domain Of State legislation, that it might be
wise to have the militia Of the several States
organized as national guard, the uniform
ing, equipping and maintenance Jf which
should be at the expense Of the national
Our experience In the late war
showed how readily the organization Of
troops and appointment Of officers could be
efected under State authority, and vet the
whole body, at the moment Of necessity,
placed under the command Of the National
Government. III a regiment were authorized
for each Congressional district throughout
the country, IL would make a large and effect
i've force. furnish bond Of strong sympathy
between all the States, especially between the
young men OF the States. and would give, re
gardless of the disparity In the wealth Of the
states, the same ability to organize for the
cause Of common defence.
While the general government Is seeking
10 get rid OF a surplus revenue derived from
Indirect, unoppressive and unfelt taxes, the
militia system Of the several States is sus-
talned by direct taxes upon the lands and
homes Of the people, and in many States Is
felt to be financial burden. l think few
wiser measures could be enacted by Congress
than to unity the militia, give IL truly ma
tonal character. and create that spirit Of
pride and emulation between the several
States which would tend to make the whole
force one Of patritoc usefulness, without
great expense and without involving any
one OF the many objections TO standing ar
my; Tbs constitution OF the United States
declares that "a well regulated militia Is nee
esssry to the security Of free State" and
think that national guard, thus organized,
would, for 4..s time In our history, fully
carry out the ide.. '''''" should
be-
II this suggestion shoula
favorable consideration Of the 4
recommend that by proper memorial
brought TO the attention Of Congress-
MONUMENTS AT GETTYSBURG.
Many Of the States whose troops were en-
gagged In defense Of the Union at Gettysburg
have erected on the battle field monuments
Dr. memorial stones commemorative Of the
event. The troops Of Maine were hon0rably
distinguished on that bloody field, and the
memory OF their heroic deeds should be hon
pred with those Of their compatriOts. rec
that the Legislature take aDpro-
pirate action In the premises,-as justly due
10 the living and to the dead, and to the hon
Or Of the State for all time.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
The question Of the prohibition Of the
liquor traffic in Maine has engaged popular
within the last year to a cOnsidera-
BILE extent. The agitation has resulted in a
re-afiirmation on the part Of the people, at
.he polls, Of their full faith In the prohibitO-
~ system, and Of their desire 10 see the law
fairly administered and properly enforced.
The situation in the State respecting the law
nay be briefly and candidly stated In from
TO four-hfth Of the towns Of the
state the law Is well enforced and has prac-
lcally abolished the sale Of splrtuOus and
malt liquors as beverage. In the larger
titles and towns, on the seab0ard and at
railway centers, IL has been found more diff
cult to secure perfect compliance with the
law, but II can still be said that at very few
points IN the state Is liquor openly sold.
The offences against the law are Ia large
part elandestine, and therefore difficult to
ietect and expose by legal testimony. But
L Is great moral gain when the liquor sell
er Is driven from the light Of day TO secret
places and 10 stealthy devices to carry on his
lurtful and dem0ralizing traffic.
Some Of the more Jealous friends OF the
temperance cause think that an increase Of
.he penalties, especially for the first offence
If liquor selling, would cure the admitted
svil OF imperfect enforcement, but the more
prudent, and L think by far the larger num-
Der, are Of the opinion that an increase Of
he penalty would do harm rather than good.
What Is actually needed at the points named
5 sound public opinion TO urge and uphold
wanting the case Is made difficult with the
law, as indeed II always is with
very form of law. Perhaps an increase Of
'enalty would, In the places referred to, en-
lance, rather than diminish. the evils Of in
Inference and Of hostility.
1t can, however, be said with satisfaction
hat even with this imperfect enforcement at
certain points, the law has been Of immeas-
lrable value in reducing the liquor trafie,
Ind has correspondingly increased the
wealth of the State by Increasing the So
)riety Of the people and saving the fruits OF
industry. One evil, inseparable from law
Enacted after a strong popular contest Is
hat the prevailing side Is looked to as the
me to enforce its provisions. whereas every
aw should be as binding upon those who
opposed its enactment as upon those who
abored for IL. The experience Of Maine for
he last thirty years abundantly justides the
adoption Of the prOhibitory system, and il
will be the duty Of the Legislature TO add to
Is efficiency in whatever way, after full and
impartial Investigation, may be found prac-
remembering that legal
penalties must be kept inside, and not
pressed beyond, the bounds Of public
opinion.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
For several years complaint has been made
II the law in this State which, under certain
conditions, permits Imprisonment for debt
There Is something repulsive 10 our better
ceilings In this treatment; something, also,
nat e0ntradicts common sense In such a
remedy. III a man owes debt and has no
property, and you deprive him Of the power
II working, how can be pay il? Moreover,
'oeiety has no right TO inhiet an ignOminiOus
punishment upon man for the misfortune